All Aboard The Time Express

The old train station stood desolate in the middle of a barren wasteland, its crumbling walls and rusted beams a stark reminder of a bygone era. The stark, quiet atmosphere of the station was punctuated by the sleek, futuristic train that gleamed on its tracks. Its silver exterior pulsed faintly with blue chrono energy, casting an otherworldly glow against the barren expanse. This wasn’t just a train—it was a fortress on rails, designed to keep its secrets moving and untouchable.

Near the platform, Rhea, Dax, and Talia waited in the shadows, dressed to blend in. The plan was clear: they were tasked with infiltrating the train’s auction as participants, using Malik’s invitation card, with their masks being their tickets to anonymity. Rhea’s wolf mask glinted faintly in the low light as she adjusted it, her formal attire sharp and unyielding. Dax loomed nearby, the lion mask on his face complementing his broad, intimidating frame, while Talia’s eagle mask gave her a sharp, piercing gaze that matched her demeanor.

“Mask team in position,” Rhea said over the comms, her voice steady.

“Copy that,” Mira replied with her and Jessie’s own codenames. “Fox and I are set up.”

High above, Mira and Jessie crouched on the station rooftop, concealed by its weathered beams. From their vantage point, they could see the entire platform and the train below, their movements hidden in the deep shadows. Jessie adjusted his chrono blade at his side, eyeing the moving guards. Mira worked silently beside him, her holo-tablet in hand and her drone, Tidus, hovering nearby.

Their part of the mission was more precarious. Once the train started moving, they would jump onto the cargo car and use it as their entry point to get into the train and then to the server room. From there, Mira would extract data on the auction, its participants, and any potential connections to larger black-market networks. Jessie’s role was to protect her and ensure they weren’t detected.

“Well,” Jessie muttered, “this isn’t exactly my idea of a scenic rooftop picnic. You sure these guards won’t decide to take a coffee break up here?”

Mira smirked, not looking up from her work. “Relax, Jess. They’re too busy checking the train and the platform. Nobody’s interested in the roof of a rundown station.”

“Easy for you to say,” Jessie quipped. “You’ve got Tidus here keeping watch. What do I have? My charm?”

Tidus’s core pulsed faintly, its voice cutting through the moment. “If by ‘charm,’ you’re referring to your historical failure rate of 67% in similar situations, I’d recommend relying on Mira instead.”

Jessie sighed, “Wow, Tidus. Way to inspire confidence.”

“Confidence is statistically irrelevant,” Tidus intoned, hovering slightly closer. “Competence, on the other hand, is worth cultivating.”

Mira chuckled, tapping a command into her holo-pad as Tidus scanned the area below. “Guards are finishing their survey. Once they’re done, we jump onto the designated car.”

Jessie adjusted his gloves, stealing a glance at the train below. “And once we’re on, we sneak in, avoid getting caught, and grab the intel. Easy, right?”

“Sure,” Mira replied, her tone light. “Assuming you don’t trip over your own feet mid-jump.”

Jessie grinned. “Oh, ye of little faith.”

As Rhea led the team to the abandoned station, Talia adjusted her collar, muttering, “I feel naked without my bow.”

Dax grinned behind his lion mask, his tone casual. “I don’t need a weapon. These hands do just fine.”

“If all goes to plan, we won’t have to use any hands.” The captain said, leading the team forward on the platform in a hushed voice. Two guards stood by the train’s entrance, their thin black armor complemented by cloaks draped over their shoulders. Their headgear, a hybrid between a mask and helmet, concealed every trace of identity. Only faint crimson lines glowed across the matte black surface.

One held out a hand, their voice low and firm. “Invitation.”

Rhea reached into her coat and pulled out the auction card—a sleek, metallic rectangle. She handed it to the guard, her movements calm and composed.

Their part in the mission was straightforward but delicate: use Malik’s auction card to enter as buyers, stay undetected, and observe the auction. They had no weapons, no obvious means of defense. The team’s chrono anchors, which normally provided them with immunity to time distortions and access to their chrono weapons, had been temporarily disabled by Mira to bypass the train’s security scans.

The guard managed to scan the card and paused, tilting their head. A cold voice came from behind his mask.

“This wasn’t issued to you.”

A long silence stretched over the comms.

However, Rhea didn’t flinch. “It wasn’t,” she said coolly. “It was issued to Malik—a spineless coward who doesn’t have the nerve to show up. I’m his boss.” Her tone sharpened, commanding respect. “I’m here because I know how to sniff out the big leagues.”

The guard didn’t respond immediately, their masked gaze fixed on Rhea. Tension hung in the air like a blade poised to drop.

“Hm.”

Finally, they gave a curt nod and gestured for the second guard to scan them.

The scanning device emitted faint pulses of red light as it passed over Rhea, then Dax, then Talia. Mira’s modifications worked seamlessly, masking any anomalies. But the risk was palpable—without their anchors, the three would be completely vulnerable to any time distortions or threats inside the train.

“You’re clear. Proceed.”

It took some effort from the team to not exhale in relief at those words. Inside the train, Rhea’s team entered a luxurious compartment, its design a stark contrast to the crumbling station outside. The walls were lined with polished steel and soft, glowing panels of blue light. Plush seating was arranged in small clusters, each area outfitted with a holo-display showcasing items up for auction. The space was both expansive and meticulously designed, a testament to the wealth and power of its organizers.

“Mask team aboard,” Rhea reported quietly over the comms. 

“Understood,” Mira replied. “Stay sharp. No unnecessary comms from this point on. We’ll handle the rest.”

From their rooftop vantage point, Mira and Jessie watched as the remaining buyers boarded the train one by one. Each was masked, their identities hidden beneath elaborate designs. The guards scanned each of them meticulously, ensuring no one unauthorized slipped through.

As the last buyer stepped aboard, one of the guards outside raised a hand to their comms. “Final survey complete. Ready for departure.”

The train’s engines roared to life, the sleek machine letting out a sharp, mechanical whistle. Jessie’s grin widened. “Showtime.”

Mira adjusted her holo-tablet, her focus razor-sharp. “Stay close and follow my lead.”

As the train began to roll forward, Mira and Jessie moved swiftly across the rooftop, keeping low. The barren wasteland stretched out before them, the cracked earth and distant distortions creating an eerie backdrop. The train’s sleek, glowing body stood out against the desolation, its chrono engines pulsing rhythmically.

They reached the edge of the rooftop just as the train began to pick up speed. Mira crouched, calculating the timing. “Now.”

With precision, the two leaped from the rooftop, their silhouettes cutting through the faintly lit air. Jessie landed first, rolling to absorb the impact before gripping the train’s sleek surface for balance. Mira followed, landing beside him.

Jessie exhaled, steadying himself on the train’s smooth surface. “Whew, that’s one way to catch a ride.”

Tidus hovered beside him, its tone neutral. “Current velocity indicates no permanent damage to your person. Congratulations.”

Mira ignored them, already working on the hatch to the cargo compartment. Her fingers flew over her holo-pad, and with a soft click, the lock disengaged. She slipped inside, Jessie close behind.

“Hawk, Fox, report,” Rhea’s voice came over the comms.

“Ghost team on board,” Mira replied, her tone steady. “No signs of detection so far.”

“Good. Keep it that way.”

As the train raced into the night, the squad moved toward their respective objectives, the mission only beginning to unfold.